Every Major Wrestling Debut TV Show Ranked From Worst To Best
10. WWE ECW
An undead monstrosity shuffled back to a bastardisation of life, and it was acknowledged by what was either an inspired meta in-joke, or network mandate, in the form of the 'Zombie'.
The Zombie was killed again by the Sandman, who made his entrance to unfamiliar, underwhelming stock music. One of two things happened: WWE told us not to worry about the rumoured SciFi Network intervention, we'll have fun with it, wink, or WWE begrudgingly appeased its new master. Both felt like a compromise, and that's what WWECW felt like from the jump.
The debut wasn't a terrible episode of TV - this version of Kurt Angle, sadistic choke-out artist, had real potential - but it was unshakeably 'wrong'. The fans in the arena reacted with mild enthusiasm; the arena itself was distant and corporate, where the ECW of old was intimate and familial.
The feature-not-a-bug complexion of the old roster did not work in this jarring, unflattering context. It was akin to filtering a ramshackle, incendiary punk act through ProTools. The Extreme Battle Royal main event was a nothing, witless exchange of weapons shots, and really, the only re-watch fascination lies in Paul Heyman's eyes.
He lasted until December, but it was over before it began.